My happy place!
ABOUT ME
In a nut shell: I have a B.A. in Physical Education, with an emphasis in Outdoor Recreation. I am a professional motorcycle instructor Certified in both Total Control and MFS (Motorcycle Safety Foundation) for on-street training and D.A.R.T. (Dragoo Adventure Rider Training) trained for off street training. I am a Certified Wilderness First Responder and have been trained in Crash Scene Safety. I have over 30 years of backcountry experience in one of the most extreme places in North America - ALASKA! My experience includes: mountain biking, backcountry bike packing, mountaineering, white water rafting, kayaking, extended backcountry backpacking (bush-wack style), and advanced snowmaching in the foothills of Mt. McKinley, topping it all off with thousands of miles of backcountry adventure riding. You can say I’m an outdoor enthusiast.
Total Control Track Clinic 2022
Want more information about me: After surviving a near fatal motorcycle accident, in 2011, I try to live by the philosophy: “Redline your life, by living it to the fullest.” Having lived in Alaska most of my life and riding everything with an engine, when I moved to Washington in 2005, it was time to get a motorcycle. Like every other motorcyclist, I received my endorsement and went out and rode! For six years, I rode without any issues. Then, one cold November evening as I was starting to make my way home from work, a driver took a left-hand turn in front of me and I could not manage the situation. As I tried to stop, I slid into the side of the vehicle and awoke hours later in a Harbor View Trauma Facility. The year that followed included seven orthopedic surgeries and a ton of rehab, then another year to continue rehab and regain my life. To this day, my body still bears the consequences of that day.
Getting ready for a 2-day tour following the Touratech Rally West 2021. Photo by Carrie Finch
After this life changing event, I decided to become a motorcycle instructor. I knew it would make me a better rider and I wanted to help other riders make better decisions than I did. My goal is to train students to a proficiency that minimizes crashes, injuries and fatalities. By the way, I had made a good decision of wearing all the gear, head to toe. I did, however, change my thoughts on wearing all black gear. We can cover more on that in one of my classes.
Many riders who hear this story say, “It wasn’t my fault, it was the fault of the other driver and had they not turned in front of me, I wouldn’t have hit them.” Well, I’m here to tell you, “I played a part in the accident.” It is very rare that riders don’t play some kind of role when it comes to accidents.
Crash scene 2011
Riders need to practice the skills taught when they are receiving their endorsement and then once proficient at those skills, sign up for advanced training. I did not practice any of the skills, hence, me not being able to manage a quick stop and/or a swerve and I did not take any further training, which would have reinforced those safety maneuvers. I was wearing all black, at night, which did not help the driver SEE me and the headlight on that particular bike when dimmed, the light closes to the oncoming traffic, is turned off. To top it all off, I was distracted when I left work and did not buckle my helmet, which on impact came off and I cracked my head open. Since I was getting out of work late, I was probably rushing as well. In addition to those things, I did not anticipate that the driver would turn in front of me. Therefore, I did not have a Plan B. These are all the reasons I played a part in the accident.
Low speed collision (25-30 mph)
Page 1 of the BRC book states, “Completing the BRC does not guarantee you will be safe on the road. You are responsible for your own safety. The BRC provides the basics that allow you to continue to practice your skills and strategies on your motorcycle.” Unfortunately, many riders do not follow that advice. There are many other strategies that can help us, as well as those that help other motorists SEE us better. I learned the hard way and I hope you will reach out for some training so I can help you manage this seriously fun sport! It’s seriously FUN, but it’s seriously risky as well and if we don’t practice the skills necessary to survive on the streets and/or the backcountry, we are relying on PDL, Pure Dumb Luck, to get us down the road. Yes, you can ride for many years and have nothing happen, but it only takes a moment in time and life will be forever changed.
Unless you are more of a talker or just riding to the nearest Starbucks, motorcycling is the most dangerous way to get from one point to another. You are 3800% more likely to die per mile ridden verses mile driven. Learn why it’s more dangerous and then learn ways to manage t
Three years after my accident, I decided to take an extended motorcycle trip and ended up living off my bike for 15 months, covering 31,000 miles. During that trip, I set the first original record for covering the most consecutive Backcountry Discovery Routes (BDR), five of them at the time. And, I had the honor of being a part of the BDR Expedition Team for the filming of the New Mexico BDR.
NMBDR Expedition Team 2015
From that experience, I was asked by Paul Guillien, CEO of TouratechUSA, to manage a women’s project and the birth of SheADV.com soon followed. Throughout my 31,000-mile tour, I had been thinking about ways to contribute to the motorcycle community and help other riders, especially women, get into this awesome sport. SheADV has since been a part of the Touratech Rally, the largest ADV Rally in North
America, and has been promoting the growth of women in the ADV world ever since. I helped co-lead several multi-day tours, where we left the Touratech rally and hit parts of the Washington BDR. SheADV does not charge for these tours, it is our way to give back to the community. Through my long-distance travel and SheADV, I have been featured in several ADVMoto articles, been keynote speaker at the 49er Rally and presenter at Overland Expo. Since 2016, in addition to private and small group trainings, I have co-led many Backcountry Discovery Route (BDR) tours and serve as an ambassador for the BDR non-profit organization. Since 2017, I have been one of the lead instructors at Overland Expo, co-led at Touratech Dirt Daze and led the training and tours for Dirty for Good in 2019-2021, all organizations with which I continue to work.
I often travel around the USA for events, training and tours.
Dirty for Good 2019, Photo by Robin Knotek Bova
2022 Rookie of the Year
“This instructor completed instructor training in early 2022. During the training, consistently positive feedback was generated from the trainers. With training complete, this instructor began working at multiple locations, generating similarly positive feedback from all the site managers and co-instructors.
This instructor consistently demonstrates a high degree of professionalism and commitment to students, and the program as a whole. An infectious smile and happy attitude are always present and welcome in any environment, and an openness to ideas from others creates a comfortable and welcoming presence. Asking questions while learning something new has provided even more confidence and abilities in a short amount of time.
Soon after MTC Instructor Training, this instructor began broadening the number of certifications by consecutively working toward certifications in IRC, ARC and our new ABC. Along the way, the instructor also participated as a student, quite successfully, in the beta class our new Advanced Motor School for motor Cops. All of this happened in one year.
Please join me in congratulating our 2022 Rookie of the Year, Shalmarie Wilson.” - Lee Parks
